Notes: The Christian’s three-fold calling
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Introduction
#1: The three-fold calling of Adam
Adam’s prophetic calling: to teach the Word of God to Eve and others.
Adam’s priestly calling: to keep and cultivate the garden of Eden.
Adam’s kingly calling: to have dominion and stewardship over creation.
#2: The three-fold damage of sin
Sin corrupts our knowledge of God (mistrust)
Sin corrupts the righteousness of our desires and deeds
Sin corrupts our submission and obedience to God (rebellion)
#3: The three-fold office of Christ (Luke 4:16-21)
Christ’s prophetic office: He came as the Word of God and fulfilled His ministry of revelation. Christ revealed the holiness of God: perfect justice and perfect love.
Christ’s priestly office: He came as the true temple, and as the true high priest He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice. He also prays for His people before the cross (John 17) and after His ascension (Heb. 7:24-25; Rom. 8:32-34).
Christ’s kingly office: He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father, and represented His people. Christ overcame the forces of darkness and the devil’s temptations and obeyed the Father’s will completely, even unto death. Now, Christ rules over all creation by His sovereign authority granted by the Father.
On the cross:
Prophet: People-ward ministry of revelation
Priest: God-ward ministry of reconciliation
King: Devil-ward ministry of liberation
Conclusion: The three-fold calling of the Christian
Three-fold commission (Matt. 28:18-20).
Priest: “Go and make disciples… baptizing them”
Prophet: “Teaching them to observe…”
King: “All authority… I am with you always.” As coregents, we go in Christ’s kingly authority.
Because Christ is King, the church is sent.
Because Christ is prophet, the church teaches His word. Christ still speaks to us today through the exposition of the Scriptures (Rom. 10:14).
Because Christ is priest, the church reconciles the world to God.
The Christian is first and foremost a person in Christ.
The Christian is called to be the salt and light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16). We are to walk as children of light, and expose the works of darkness.
The Christian is called to be the priest, who reconciles man to God through Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-21).
The Christian is called to be a coregent king, with Christ as the main king.
How can we fulfil this calling? We simply need to obey the commands of Christ, and do so not in order to earn my identity as a Christian, or in order to maintain it. You can only fulfill this calling if you realize that this identity has been given to you by God, and any success we have at this identity has come from God and not from us.
We cannot fulfill this calling as ourselves apart from God. It is Christ who fulfills this calling through us, the church.
Only by the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot carry out these roles if we depend on our own strength. The prophets, priests, and kings all had to be anointed first before entering their role. Likewise, we need to be filled with the Spirit, and operate in the power of the Spirit.
Is the Spirit of the Lord upon us? Then we too are called to this three-fold calling. We are prophets, priests, and kings. And the power that anoints us is the same power by which we carry out our function as prophets, priests, and kings.
Last week we studied about the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolized the holy presence of God. And we saw how through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we as the church are now the presence of God in this world. That is what we are, and that is also what we do.
Now, what does that
What is the sign of the Holy Spirit’s work within us?
25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
NOTES:
In the history of the church, there have been many arguments over the salvation work of Jesus.
Some people said that Jesus came to die on our behalf (priest)
Some people said that Jesus came to show us an example of how we should live (prophet)
Some people said that Jesus came to defeat the devil (king)
Which do you think is true?
The prophet’s role toward God is to
Priest = substitute
King = representative
Prophet = mediator
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
But we need to understand one thing. Jesus wasn’t a Levite, but He was a priest.
Meaning that He didn’t operate under the same covenant as the Levitical priesthood and the law of Moses. They needed to offer sacrifices constantly to atone for the sins of the people.
But Jesus is from the tribe of Judah. And He comes in the priestly order of who? Melchizedek. So Jesus now operates under a different covenant. The covenant of grace. And this covenant requires not many animals or many priests, but only one priest and one sacrifice.
12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Where do we see this new covenant in Jesus’ ministry? It was ratified at the last supper and consummated on the cross.
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
